[center] [img]https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/ddc1acbe-5b92-433c-8fb2-07f974ef7790/d4s6tyx-0c9c08ad-6fb9-4cb5-9142-afdba4dad067.jpg/v1/fill/w_1024,h_652,q_75,strp/old_ways_to_destination_by_zulusplitter_d4s6tyx-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9NjUyIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvZGRjMWFjYmUtNWI5Mi00MzNjLThmYjItMDdmOTc0ZWY3NzkwXC9kNHM2dHl4LTBjOWMwOGFkLTZmYjktNGNiNS05MTQyLWFmZGJhNGRhZDA2Ny5qcGciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTAyNCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.0QQklR-BTp5NMkpe5hiCs4OA_ccFxn-RU3YCxLtYyQs[/img] [/center] Even in the aftermath of a grueling battle, Telos IV maintains a certain inescapable beauty. Battle-scarred craters scrawl across the greenery, and even what was a few days ago a fierce battlefield now finds itself steadily reclaimed by Telos's greenery. Among the entrenchment lines and immumerate bunkers dug from the spires on which you're now housed, Telos IV stands strong, even as the cratering wreckages of AT-AT and older AT-TE litter the landscape far in the distance. From the balcony above where most of the CIS forces in the city of Vara, collections of CIS battle flags -- bundled up like matches and kindling sticks -- join together and bellow in the wind, scorched and littered with blaster-holes in defiance to the Imperial onslaught below. You're exhausted. Everyone's exhausted. The battle took positions more apropos a siege than a true battle: Star Destroyers bludgeoned every position while anti-ship batteries fired with such ferocity that it became impossible to tell night from day. Imperial Stormtroopers descended upon the planet, incision after incision, attempting to flank and breach, and after each successful cut they made they would find themselves further pressed into a deeper defense. The entirety of the Imperial assault fleet would be here after a months-long pursuit along the Hydian Way, until a battered CIS remnant and Imperial force alike pitched their forces along this fated battle. The Empire did not retreat. Even after the battle was won and the Imperial task force in ruins, the respite of victory was only so brief. This particular CIS force has taken up residence in a series of tenements along the sprawling Residential districts of Vara -- one of Telos' many starport cities -- to something of the chagrin of its landlords. You've noticed a particular antipathy as you've strode along the surface of Telos - its citizens have struggled long and hard for their homeworld, straggled with civil war in the years prior to the Clone Wars. Scars of the conflict reverb along even along the planet's architecture. As you cast gazes out of one of Telos' spires and elevators, the battered, skeletal remains of air defense towers and megalithic housing spires puncture the otherwise lush verdant of the escapement. The locals, while not [i]antagonistic[/i], seem rather apprehensive about your continued stay on Telos. The atmosphere of Telos has been tense for decades by this point, and it's an odd day when you can go out and about your business without attracting a glance or a curious gaze from a local or two. Most seem willing -- if not eager -- to conduct their daily essential business with Confederate forces, but there's always a tone behind them that seems to belie a certain suspicion of outsiders that isn't known for a world known for its tourism. A world that once attracted visitors from all corners of the galaxy along the Outer Rim has found itself closing itself in, tighter and tighter, much to the dismay of the Telosians. A message goes off on your datapad in the early hours of the morning, ringing at the characteristic buzz of a new MMS over the planetary E-Feed. You see it's from Raash Ti: The planetary commander for the CIS' operations on Telos IV and one of the regional commanders -- or rather who is left for the job, at this rate -- for the Kwymar Sector. You haven't met him personally many times, but his delegate lieutenant Kaven Zur is a very familiar sight. [hr] [code] From: RTi559416@ciskwymar.sfd Subject: Updates: MMS / SFD Protocol & Announcements All Personnel, As of yesterday, EWD (Electronic Warfare Division) noticed an influx of erratic patterns going out of the planetary system. They've reported encryption discrepancies in the transmissions. Until further notice, I am ordering comm silence until this issue can be resolved. ALL communications, on and off-planet, are ceased until we can locate these fluxes and resolve them. Orders will be dispatched through authorized comm channels ONLY and will be delegated to troops as necessary. ETA on comm patches is two weeks out. If MP catches any of you sending unauthorized MMS's, enjoy a one-way trip into the brig. No questions. Commander Raash Ti, SECCOMM Kwymar [/code] [hr] As you go about the morning, the entirety of the Remnant forces are buzzing to one another about the most recent orders -- confusion and suspicion dripping from all their hushed conversations, whispering of leave and Imperial sympathizers. Some grow cautious, even from the curbed tones of their voice, suspicious of some bands of the more quiet locals, or even one of the Reformists there. Some are just happy to have a few days of downtime between orders, happy to indulge their spare time mingling in one of Telos' many cantinas and clubs, throwing out what spare credits they've got in solidarity to another day yet survived. Another MMS over the E-Feed lights your datapad up in the late morning. As it buzzes, you see another message: This one's from the second-in-command. Must be important for the circumstances. [hr] [code] From: KZu528916@@ciskwymar.sfd Subject: Last Update I won't take long. This'll be the last MMS you'll get from me until our issue is resolved. Scara has been working with EWD to patch up the most recent encryption issues, and she's requested your help. Because of the nature of the investigation and the most recent orders, it's a good window of opportunity between the three of us, so the both of us are asking for your help here. I've also got the most recent assignment from Commander Ti. Due to the data breach I can't go into details about it like we usually do over E-Feed, i'll be giving you the intel via datacard once we're all assembled. Meet us at the EWD compound this evening (19:00) and i'll brief you there. Maj. Kaven Zur, PLANCOM Telos [/code] [hr] Scara is one of the intelligence leads in the employ of Commander Ti. The woman's done an exemplary job -- she seems to be able to decipher enigma after enigma even in the most bleak of days, and nobody's quite sure on how she does it: Not even herself. She's always been an odd one, a bit difficult to figure out, rather Delphian and always a bit aloof. There was a certain queerness to her that made her perfect for her job in intelligence. She gets results -- for Raash Ti, that's always been more than enough. But if [i]she's[/i] saying there's issues with encryption? That can't be a good sign. Still, you've got a good bit of time to mingle and get your bearings for the day. If the Major's saying to wait that long to give the news...you might need it.